Burden of Disease from Rising Coal-Fired Power Plant Emissions in Southeast Asia

Abstract

Southeast Asia has a very high population density and is on a fast track to economic development, with most of the growth in electricity demand currently projected to be met by coal. From a detailed analysis of coal-fired power plants presently planned or under construction in Southeast Asia, we project in a business-as-usual scenario that emissions from coal in the region will triple to 2.6 Tg a SO and 2.6 Tg a NO by 2030, with the largest increases occurring in Indonesia and Vietnam. Simulations with the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model show large resulting increases in surface air pollution, up to 11 μg m for annual mean fine particulate matter (PM) in northern Vietnam and up to 15 ppb for seasonal maximum 1 h ozone in Indonesia. We estimate 19 880 (11 400-28 400) excess deaths per year from Southeast Asian coal emissions at present, increasing to 69 660 (40 080-126 710) by 2030. 9000 of these excess deaths in 2030 are in China. As Chinese emissions from coal decline in coming decades, transboundary pollution influence from rising coal emissions in Southeast Asia may become an increasing issue.

Air Quality in Association With Rural Coal Mining and Combustion in New South Wales Australia

“…Pollution from coal-fired power plants is also injurious to human health. 14,20 Studies of cities in Australia have documented significant health impairments from air pollution, 2-7 and our study demonstrates that levels of air pollution are even higher in areas outside these large cities that are characterized by coal mining and combustion.…”

“…These health problems include elevated rates of birth defects, as well as morbidity and mortality from chronic respiratory and cardiovascular disease that are well‐known to occur in conjunction with air pollution. Pollution from coal‐fired power plants is also injurious to human health . Studies of cities in Australia have documented significant health impairments from air pollution, and our study demonstrates that levels of air pollution are even higher in areas outside these large cities that are characterized by coal mining and combustion.…”

“…There are many arguments to be made for transitioning from coal to alternative methods of metal production and energy generation. Among these arguments are public health considerations . Coal contributes to air pollution and to human health problems in all phases of its extraction, transportation, processing, use, and disposal .…”

“…Of particular interest for the current study are the possible contributions from coal mining and coal combustion. Globally, there is an extensive body of literature that has established the air polluting effects of coal power generation . To a lesser extent, the effects of surface mining for coal on air pollution have also been reported internationally …”

Seasonal dynamics of atmospheric and river inputs of black carbon, and impacts on biogeochemical cycles in Halong Bay, Vietnam

“…Therefore, the input of BC to the coastal zone in this region is expected to be dominated by dry deposition during the winter monsoon, and dominated by wet deposition and riverine runoff during the summer monsoon. Because in the Asia-Pacific region, the emission of BC to the atmosphere is expected to increase in the coming decades (OECD, 2016), in particular due to the rising use of coal-fired power plants (Koplitz et al, 2017), it is relevant to define and constrain the pathways for BC into the ocean, as well as its impact on marine ecosystems.…”